Bill Maher is absolutely not afraid to tell it like he sees it. This trait tends to get him into some heated exchanges and straight controversies. But it's also why millions of people tune in to watch him on HBO's Real Time or buy tickets for his critically acclaimed stand-up. While the enormously rich and beloved political talk show host has his fans, even his audience rebels against him from time to time. This has led to one of the most beloved running gags on his show.
While Bill may love to berate his audience for groaning at some of the things he says, he doesn't love hecklers. While they have been few and far between on his HBO show, Bill has had to deal with a few of them. In one circumstance, things got so heated that Bill went into the audience himself to physically throw him out of the studio. Here's what happened...
Why Bill Maher Threw An Audience Member Out Of His Show
In 2007, Bill and his panels was subjected to a furious heckler spouting 9/11 conspiracy theories. The panel, which featured MSNBC's former host, Chris Matthews, Los Angeles Times writer Joel Stein, as well as Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, was totally thrown off as soon as the man started screaming. At first, it seemed like a brief interruption. But soon things got totally out of hand...
"Hey! Do we have some f****** security in this building!?" Bill screamed, jetting up out of his seat as the heckler continued to interrupt the segment. "Or do I have to come over and kick this guy's a**!?"
Without further thought, Bill rushed into the audience to help security and other audience members escort the sign-wielding conspiracy theorist out of the room.
"Hey! Would you get the f*** out of my building!?" Bill screamed as he physically pushed the man up the stairs and out the door with the help of three others. "Out! Out! Out!"
Most of the audience absolutely loved this and cheered him on. However, soon a female 9/11 conspiracy theorist started screaming,"What about building 7, Bill!? That was cowardice, attacking a man for---"
"I'll kick your a** out of here too!"
Once again, the majority of the audience started applauding, clearly not expecting the usually tame show to go sideways so fast.
"Get her the f*** out!" Bill screamed at his security. "Hey! This isn't the Iowa Caucus. It's not a debate. It's a debate between us [referring to his panelists]. You're in the audience. 'Audience' comes from the Latin, 'to listen'. What's going on here!?"
Of course, as soon as Bill sat back down with his panelists, the previous 9/11 conspiracy theorist started yelling again, demanding that Bill challenge former President Bush about a "cover up" and "orchestrating" 9/11. This promoted Bill to say, "[This is] the only time I defend Bush."
Instead of addressing any of the completely unfounded comments from his hecklers, Bill continued on with his show like a pro. Of course, he was only able to do this because the security finally did their jobs and escorted the hecklers out of the studio.
Bill Maher's Two Other Heckling Incidents
Bill incident in 2007 wasn't the only time he got into an altercation with an audience member on his HBO political show. In 2015, another heckler, who also appeared to be a 9/11 conspiracy theorist, attempted to dismantle the panel segment of Bill's show. While security was there to escort him out, the man could be heard screaming, although it was challenging for anyone to actually make out what he was saying. Regardless, his incessant yelling though the halls of the HBO studio disrupted the segment for a few minutes. When one of his panelist asked if this sort of thing often happened, Bill recounted the time he had to go into the audience himself to kick someone out. This time, fortunately, he had professional help.
In 2019, Bill dealt with yet another heckler, according to Fox News. This time it was a pro-Donald Trump activist who started screaming about Bill's besmirching the then-President during his discussion with Republican Buck Sexton. As the commotion continued, Buck joked, "I do not know him, by the way."
"I see you brought a guest," Bill responded.
Bill Maher is no stranger to angering supporters of the former President. Even Donald Trump himself attempted to get Bill canceled due to his constant criticism. But having a Trump supporter in his audience is rare for Bill. While his studio audience doesn't attract the far-left (who also tend to loathe Bill), the vast majority of them are classic liberals. So, it made sense that the rest of the audience started booing the heckler as soon as he opened his mouth.
Unfortunately, this didn't shut down the heckler and Bill, once again, brought up how he isn't afraid of entering the audience himself.
"This isn't the first time I've had to go in the audience," Bill said, standing up at his desk. "But we've got to get faster-moving security people. I mean, I'm telling you."
